Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-29
CITY AND DISTRICT.
DIR. NEWMAN,S CHURCH.
Tine Annual Auction OF PeWs NJ thl
MeIrODOlft0n.

MevK0pOItt00s
THE FIRST CHOICE BOUGHT BY SENATOR STANFORD
Ho" THE SEATS soLD-PEwS THAT WERE ONCE
BOUGHT OUTRIGHT FOR HIGH PRICES
The voice OF an auctioneer rang out from the
pulpit OF the Metropolitan NJ E. church last even
ing, while the pastor, Rev. Dr. Newman, displaced
lor the moment by the man OF the red nag, was
one Oh the audience. It was the annual sale OF
pews, or rather choice Of pewss There were about
200 members Of the congregation present Mr..
"aaeer b Williams the auctioneer, began business
promptly at O'Clock by asking bid for the first
choace OF pews. He got bid OF $e5 which was
immediately raised TO So This was as much as
the auctioneer could obtain and he Knocked down
the nrst choice to Nj. Fowler, who was acting as
agent Tor senator stanford. He selected pew 10S,
the NTH pew from the front in the left center The
annual rental OF the pew is $780, 50 the Senator
VIII pay, with his premium OF $50, $50 for the
the pew an iae
Also each i0r $50. for Senator saver and Repre-
se a West, respectively. For Senator Sawyer
stanford. and for Representative West pew 112. In
Ir3at OF senator Sawyers pew. The next choice
sold ior 80 to I. W. Tallmadge who took pew 68.
well forward ON the right OF the church. the annual
rental OF which Is $50 Mr.. Meade secured next
choice for $50, and selected pew "a, behind that
this pew is tGO. Then the amounts bid commenced
TO fall on rapidly
THE OTHER PEws.
Other pews were taken as follows: V. B. Ed
wards, los, $13; A. Il. vanDusen, 60 $11; Capt
Cornish, %, SLIGO; Judge Clark and Mr. Fowler,
6e. s12i ". B. Smell. 81, slO E. c. Ford. l0s, g;
+. Rogers, g3 IS; Mira La Fetra, 113, 50; Eldridge
and Clark, 100, 81: j. d. Croissant 81, Sc; j. De
sS'1 aod 1Sass Gs to as 81 sa + Moss
iofSe, ana Ms ksens, rs, s; F. c ~; s.
Drs. Mann and Bennett. 81, IS: A. P. Lacey, l08
81; $. Brown and DR.. HanSmann, 40, So; Daniel
+. somes ia, 50: Mrs. S P. Barnes, 8, s.; A. T.
II, 81; Mrs: J. II. Wilkinson, IA, so cents; c. C.
Clements, 3d. 81.
After getting down to a premium of fifty cents
but those who have held pews during the past
year were invited forward and selected pews GU,
w1 ipr a ANY
some OF those present seemed opposed to the plan
OF disposing Of the choice OF pews and refrained
at the church by not bidding lost their Old pews
One gentleman In this way lost his right to pew
which he had occupied for twelve years. No pews
In the gallery were sold. There are ITS pewS In
the church, and the rents range from 800 to So
the amount asked for pews In the rear OF the
S,a Those IN MhS buy simply pay the
session OF the pews selected will be given on the
first Sunday In April.
PBwS THAT SOLD FOR HIGH PRICES.
About twenty-five Of the choice pewS OF the
church are exempted from the annual auction. as
they were sold outright originally and perpetual
deeds were given to the purchasers, who are re.
quired to pay only half the yearly rental charged
for other pewS in the same localities. BY this sale
when the church was erected about $21, 600 was
raised, and was used in paying OF the church
debt. At that time there was o great interest in
the church. One pew was purchased by General
Berry, OF Baltimore, for s. OOO for President John
son. 1t was occasionally occupied by MIR. johnson
while President. A member OF the church stated
to STAR reporter that Mr.. johnson was not q
member Of Metropolitan church, but General
Berry, who was an admirer OF the Presidents pol
icy, wanted to do something TO testify his admtra.
ton for him. The pew was exempted from sale
and retained as the Presidents pew, and Will be
placed at the service OF any President who may
choose to attend service at the Metropolitan
Another pew was bought by Mr.. kelso, OF Balri
more, for S. OOO for the general OF the Army, the
office being then held by General Grant. General
Grant attended service here during all OF the eight
years that he occupied the White House. Another
pew was bought at the same price by Mr. Drew
Tor Chief Justice Chase. Other pews were sold &c
members OF the church for prices ranging from
$1,000 down. Last year the pew auction was
omitted, but this year, owing to the renewed in
tereSt in the church, on account OF Dr. Newmans
paStorate, it was thought best to have sale.